In its Cloud Strategy the European Commission highlights the importance of interoperable Cloud Standards and has tasked ETSI to coordinate the efforts to "identify by 2013 a detailed map of the necessary standards (inter alia for security, interoperability, data portability and reversibility)". This action will support the Commission's strategy to "work with the support of ENISA and other relevant bodies to assist the development of EU-wide voluntary certification schemes in the area of cloud computing".

The Cloud Plugfest organised by SNIA, OGF and ETSI already plays a central role in bringing together differerent Standards Developing Organizations (SDO) and implementers to provide the necessary standards and implementations for an interoperable Cloud Ecosystem. The test specifications developed as part of the Cloud Plugfest are providing the basis for certification in the area of Cloud Computing.